Tread Mill In Garage. Can't put on GFCI?

[NYHigh]

I have a friend who wants his treadmill in his garage. Obviously he has a concrete floor. The outlets in the garage are all GFCI protected, however, the treadmill trips the GFCI when plugged in, and the directions say it can not be plugged into a GFCI protected outlet.

I'm thinking maybe I can tap off the line side of the GFCI and supply a dedicated single receptacle for the treadmill so it can be used.

This is all I can think of as far as safety goes instead of putting the treadmill elsewhere(this is not an option for the owner).

1) Would this be safe?
2) Is this acceptable according to the code?

 

[raider1]

What code year are you working under?

Under the 2008 NEC 210.8(A)(2) has NO exceptions. All 120 volt 15 and 20 amp receptacles installed in a garage must be GFCI protected.

I would be questioning why the treadmill is tripping the GFCI.

Chris

 

[NYHigh]

I would be questioning why the treadmill is tripping the GFCI.
Chris

Well I wasn't too concerned with why the treadmill was tripping the GFCI considering that the directions for the treadmill say it cannot be used when plugged into a GFCI receptacle. I'm assuming it's may be like a pool heater, which in a pool heaters directions, states the same thing but because of nuisance tripping.

 

[charlietuna]

What about a freezer outlet in a garage?

 

[charlie b]

What about a freezer outlet in a garage?

If the freezer trips the GFCI, then it means that the freezer is broken and unsafe, so the loss of food is the least of the owner's worries.

 

[charlie b]

. . . the directions for the treadmill say it cannot be used when plugged into a GFCI receptacle.

I have to wonder why the treadmill would be taking current in via the "hot" wire, and not sending it back via the "neutral" wire. Nothing else would trip a GFCI.

 

[480sparky]

What about a freezer outlet in a garage?

What is a freezer outlet?

 

[Microwatt]

Garage GFCI's

Garage GFCI's

The AHJ's around here are allowing us to put in a single receptacle in the garage ceiling for garage door openers to get away from them on GFCI's, but I don't think they would budge on this one.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Something does not sound correct in regards to the instructions. It the unit listed by one of the NRTL?

Manufacturer's have been required since July of 2006 to design their products to be symbiotic with the new generation of GFCI devices.

 

[raider1]

The AHJ's around here are allowing us to put in a single receptacle in the garage ceiling for garage door openers to get away from them on GFCI's, but I don't think they would budge on this one.

Are you under the 2008 NEC?

Is this exception a local code?

Chris

 

[raider1]

What about a freezer outlet in a garage?

Under the 2008 NEC a receptacle that serves a freezer must be GFCI protected. As I mentioned there are no longer any exceptions for receptacles in a garage.

Chris

 

[ELA]

I have a friend who wants his treadmill in his garage. Obviously he has a concrete floor. The outlets in the garage are all GFCI protected, however, the treadmill trips the GFCI when plugged in, and the directions say it can not be plugged into a GFCI protected outlet.

I'm thinking maybe I can tap off the line side of the GFCI and supply a dedicated single receptacle for the treadmill so it can be used.

This is all I can think of as far as safety goes instead of putting the treadmill elsewhere(this is not an option for the owner).

1) Would this be safe?
2) Is this acceptable according to the code?

How old are the GFCI's? The Treadmill?
Have you contacted the Treadmill Co. and asked what causes the GFCI to trip, since it states not to use them in the manual.

Two reasons why it might trip are:
1) leakage current to ground via an EMI filter inside the unit. (Newer units should have lower leakage current compatible with GFCIs but older units might not.)
2) Noise or regeneration currents from the Treadmill electronics motor control.
(At what point does the GFCI trip? Immmediate on power up, acceleration or deceleration?)
Newer GFCIs may be more robust against the noise.

 

[LarryFine]

What is a freezer outlet?

A wholesale major-appliance dealer.

 

[LarryFine]

Hmm. A direct conflict between manufacturer and NEC. You cannot do what you must do. What a dilemma.

I wish there's a way to have the maker and the inspector fight it out, and let you know when they're done.

 

[electricmanscott]

Simple answer for me. Install the receptacle to code. Let the treadmill owner deal with the problem or get out and run on the street like us real runners. :grin:

 

[LarryFine]

Simple answer for me. Install the receptacle to code.

True dat!

 

[brother]

I have seen gfci's trip when it was just a 2 prong male cord cap for a L.E.D. work light. Im not sure what was causing it. The gfci would work fine with other tools, such as a drill motor etc..

I couldnt see how any current would leak on the work light since it did not have a ground or metal frame for it to leak through, its plastic. would 'noise' be an issue in this case??

 

[tom baker]

How do you know its not a defective tread mill with a short to the frame enough to cause a shock or electrocution?

 

[brother]

How do you know its not a defective tread mill with a short to the frame enough to cause a shock or electrocution?

He says the 'manufacturers instructions' states NOT to plug into a gfci.

 

[charlietuna]

Thank You Raider One !